Tel Aviv (TDI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under growing political pressure after a key ultra-Orthodox party announced its withdrawal from the ruling coalition, reigniting a long-simmering dispute over military conscription exemptions.
The United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, which holds six seats in the Knesset, submitted resignation letters overnight from their roles in parliamentary committees and ministerial posts.
The walkout comes in protest of the government’s failure to pass legislation guaranteeing continued exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.
Read More:Â Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize Amid Gaza War
The move significantly weakens Netanyahu’s grip on the coalition, leaving him with only a razor-thin parliamentary majority.
The crisis deepened further as UTJ’s ally, the Shas party, signaled it may also exit the government unless a solution is found.
Read More:Â Gaza Truce Talks: Netanyahu Pins Hope on Trump
Under parliamentary rules, UTJ’s withdrawal will take effect in 48 hours, giving Netanyahu a brief window to negotiate a compromise and avert a full-blown coalition collapse.
Even if he fails to resolve the impasse immediately, the looming summer recess of the Knesset offers a three-month buffer during which no legislative threats can be mounted against his government.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
